Is there anyone out there who has climbed with Aventuras Patagonicas (who can give me an impression of their service) or would like to recommend a guide service for the normal route/slog? My timeframe is Jan/early Feb '08.

They have more experience on the mountain than anyone. They provided services (base camp and mules) to the climbers on the Aconcagua DVD, and are extremely well connected - hotels, weather reports, etc.. and they run their own mule business -some other guiding companies use Grajales' mules.

Quick story -one of the members on our expedition lost his luggage during his flight. Grajales lent some gear to this person, helped him rent other gear, and went out of their way to find the guys luggage. Once the lost luggage was found, it was sent it up with some mules and caught up with us at base camp. The rental gear was then brought down and returned for the guy! Definitely above and beyond. Not to mention the highly qualified guides, some of whom have climbed some 8000 meter peaks.

I can't say enough good things about these guys. Plus their prices are really reasonable.

I can't say enough good things about these guys. Plus their prices are really reasonable.

I guess climbers have received both good and bad service from companies on Aconcagua but we received sh-t service from these guys. They lied to us and left us on the trek out with no food, sleeping bags or tent becaue they wanted to get their mules back to Penitentes to carry in more gear. I still have the letter that was delivered to us on the trail two hours outside of Casa Piedra by one of the muleteers while we carried our small summit packs:

"Mr and Ms Marshall

Sorry but you need to take out your sleeping bags and food [of] your bags because we're having trouble with the river and the arneros need to go back to Penitentes, I'm sorry to disturb you but they need to cross early. Your bags will be in Penitentes when you arrive."

While I was reading this letter the mules bolted, the two muleteers ran after them and we didn't see them again.

What the letter meant was that the muleteers were trying to make it all the way from Plaza Argentina to Penitentes in one day (a trip normally done in two days) so they wanted to get to the river crossing early so the mules could cross before the river swells too much from the afternoon glacial run-off. Fellow Sper juh33 lost half his gear when a company tried this.Money now comes first to Grajales and I've swore never to use them again.

Brad Marshall wrote:Sue and I just returned from the Vacas Valley side of Aconcagua where we used the services of Inka Expeditions for our group of 10 climbers. I would highly recommend Inka and Xperience Aconcagua.

Interesting. It just goes to show you everyone can have a different experience with any of these outfitters. I have used Inka once in an emergency and lost two tents and a North Face bag for over a year. Finally got one tent back 2 years later. Never saw the NF bag again. Owners were always pleasent but stuff happens.

The outfitter, Grajales, that lost the bags in the stream (along with the mule) we never had an issue with.

So it goes to show most of the time things run well but anything can happen on any trip with either outfitter.

I just returned on a trip guided by SMI (Kurt Wedberg) and can attest that his experience on the mountain proved very valuable dealing with logistics, campsite locations, and getting the me and the other clients safely up and down the mountain.

William Marler wrote:Interesting. It just goes to show you everyone can have a different experience with any of these outfitters. I have used Inka once in an emergency and lost two tents and a North Face bag for over a year. Finally got one tent back 2 years later. Never saw the NF bag again. Owners were always pleasent but stuff happens.

The outfitter, Grajales, that lost the bags in the stream (along with the mule) we never had an issue with.

So it goes to show most of the time things run well but anything can happen on any trip with either outfitter.

How true William. While trekking into Base Camp our group stopped to watch a lone muleteer try to get three stubborn mules cross the Rio Relinchos just outside of Pampa Lenas. The mules went past the regular crossing point and attempted to cross at a narrower, faster-flowing spot. I too stopped to watch the outcome until I noticed that the mules were carrying our trekking bags and one stumbled in the river and almost went down. I couldn't watch any more thinking about our climb being over on Day 2 if a mule was lost so I turned my back and kept going. Sue later reported that the muleteer got the mules turned around and they crossed without incident.